A 13-year-old, who shot and killed 8 children at a prestigious school in the Serbian capital Belgrade early Wednesday, will not be criminally charged.
The age of the suspect was earlier revealed to be 14. However, a Belgrade police bureau press officer confirmed to CNN that the age was 13. Since the suspect had not reached the age of 14, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said that he will be criminally charged.
the decision was made in accordance with Serbia’s Law on Juvenile Offenders and the Criminal Legal Protection of Minors, the prosecutor’s office said. Meanwhile, the suspect’s father was ordered to be detained for up to 48 hours on “suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of Serious Offenses against General Security,” the prosecutor’s office said. Neither the father nor the suspect’s name has been revealed by the authorities.
As part of an onsite investigation, the prosecutor’s office will be performing a medical examination in the presence of social workers. Toxicology tests will be performed to determine whether the teen was under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or other psychoactive substances at the time of carrying out the shooting.
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“All the circumstances of this case, how he got the gun, as well as the motives of this heinous crime are being investigated,” a statement said.
In the shooting, eight girls, a boy, and a security guard were killed. Another six children and a teacher were injured in the attack.
